Plant communities were sampled in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Xinjiang. Theresults showed that there are 23 species belonging to 21 genera in 11 families, most of which havelow occurrence frequency in quadrats. The most common species is Tamarix ramosissima, whichoccurred in 17 sites accounting for 89.47% of the total 19 sites. Quantitative classification(TWINSPAN) and ordination (CCA) methods were used to study the distribution pattems of 23 plantspecies in 19 sites in this valley. TWINSPAN results showed that the plant communities in themiddle reaches of the Tarim River could be divided into 3 groups and the sampling sites could bedivided into 7 types in 3 groups. CCA results were consistent with TWINSPAN results, and showedspecies distribution pattems correlated with major environmental variables of groundwater level andsoil moisture.